Why did Anne Brontë become a niche author while her sisters Charlotte and Emily became so mainstream? The Death of Anne Brontë seeks to answer this question by exploring Anne's relationship with Charlotte and illuminating Anne's work, which shocked Victorian England and her famous older sister.
Why did Anne Brontë become a niche author while her sisters Charlotte and Emily became so mainstream? The Death of Anne Brontë seeks to answer this question by exploring Anne's relationship with Charlotte and illuminating Anne's work, which shocked Victorian England and her famous older sister.
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Story
Mission Statement
We are a team of filmmakers committed to sharing the lives and accomplishments of women and underrepresented groups whose stories remain largely forgotten or ignored through the power of storytelling.About The Project
While Anne Brontë struggles to write one last novel as she dies from tuberculosis, her sister Charlotte must choose between protecting her pride and fulfilling Anne's dying wish.
The Brontë sisters have become legends for their outstanding works of fiction, and for their tragically short-lived lives. Charlotte shot to fame with the publication of Jane Eyre. Emily has been celebrated for her masterwork, Wuthering Heights. Yet Anne Brontë, the youngest of the three sisters, remains the least well known and the least celebrated.
In her short life, Anne wrote dozens of poems and two novels. Her second novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, shook Victorian society with its feminist overtones and was a massive best-seller. Considering the prolific literary career Anne achieved before dying at the age of 29, why has she become such a niche writer while her sisters remain two of England's most famous authors?
The Death of Anne Brontë seeks to answer this question by exploring the relationship between Anne and her sister Charlotte. Anne was much more liberal than her sisters were, as evidenced in her writing. Anne’s feminist themes in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall disturbed Charlotte and she wrote of her distaste of Anne’s novel in letters to friends. In fact, following Anne's death, Charlotte took actions that ultimately degraded Anne’s legacy as a writer. Yet Charlotte also deeply loved her sisters and took it upon herself to care for Anne throughout her illness with tuberculosis.
While seeking to bring attention to Anne’s achievements, The Death of Anne Brontë aims to portray the Brontë sisters as real women who were as brilliant as they were complicated.
The overall vision for The Death of Anne Brontë will portray the Brontë sisters as the real and flawed women that they were in life while highlighting the nuance and complexity of their relationships with one another. The Death of Anne Brontë is, at its core, a family drama set in Victorian England. To achieve our vision, we will film in locations that best exude the mid-19th century, build costumes, and style the cast’s hair and make-up accordingly.
On a cinematic level, you will be immersed in the grim reality in which Anne and her sisters lived their lives and that inspired the tone of their novels and poetry. This is a period drama stripped of the glitz and glamour typically associated with the genre. The Death of Anne Brontë will be steeped in reality, painted with muted earth tones colors and exude an overall moody atmosphere.
Making a movie, whether a short or feature, is an ambitious artistic venture and The Death of Anne Brontë is no exception. To bring Anne’s story to life we will need your help. Renting period-appropriate locations will cost thousands of dollars, building costumes from scratch will cost another several hundred, and we will pay the cast and crew for their time and talent. We need to raise over $9,000, and the budget breakdown below shows where those funds will go toward:
· Cast and crew stipends – 35%
· Production design – 30%
· Costumes, and hair & make-up – 5%
· Craft services, transportation – 6%
· Equipment fees – 15%
· Insurance – 4%
· Crowdfunding fee – 5%
Any contribution, regardless of size, will help us reach our goal. Sharing our campaign and film with your close network of family and friends will also be immensely helpful.
During the pandemic, movies and TV shows lifted our spirits while we stayed home. Yet local artists suffered a major hit as work dwindled. Now as work in the arts is resurfacing, you have the opportunity to support local filmmakers who want to share a story of one family’s resilience in the midst of a public health crisis.
Since we’re not out of the pandemic yet, our team is committed to upholding all necessary safety measures to keep our cast and crew safe as we create The Death of Anne Brontë.
Thank you so much for visiting our campaign page. You can follow our team on social media to stay up to date on The Death of Anne Brontë.
@kathleen_barth_
@vinhle.co
@jj_blake
In addition to making a contribution to our campaign, you can help us by spreading the word to your family and friends. We understand that you’re busy, and so we wrote something for you to copy and paste, and share on social media. Be sure to use our hashtag: #deathofAB
Still looking for ways to recognize National Book Month? Check out this upcoming short film, “The Death of Anne Brontë”! From writer/director @kathleen_barth_ this film tells the story of Anne Brontë, the lesser known author, poetess, and genius from the legendary Brontë family. Take a closer look at the project and follow the fundraising campaign at @seedandspark #deathofAB
Check out this up and coming short film, “The Death of Anne Brontë” from writer/director @kathleen_barth_ and her amazing team of D.C. area filmmakers. This short film tells the story of the brilliant, yet forgotten younger sister of Charlotte and Emily Brontë. You can learn more about the project and the fundraising campaign @seedandspark #deathofABIncentives
$10
Social Media Shoutout
We appreciate your contribution and the world should know. Let us give you a social media shoutout! Remember to send us your social handle.
$25
Personalized Poem
A personalized poem, just for you. Let us woo you with words and express our gratitude for your involvement in the making of our film.
Plus, a social media shoutout.
$50
Extended Version of the Script and BTS Material
You'll get an exclusive look at the earlier (and longer) version of the script, and receive access to behind the scenes photos and videos.
Plus, all of the rewards above.$100
Name in the Credits
We want to thank you for your contribution by including your name in the credits of our film!
Plus, all the awards above.
$250
First Look at the Trailer
You'll be the first to join the Brontë family with a sneak peek of our trailer.
Plus, all of the rewards above.$500
Film - First Look
Before it screens at festivals or is released online, you’ll be the first to watch the completed film online.
Plus, all of the rewards above.$750
Personalized Journal
A luxury journal with your name, or any inscription you'd like, embossed on the front cover. Plus, all of the rewards above
$1,000
Executive Producer Credit
THANK YOU for supporting our film. Let us credit you as our Executive Producer. You're invited to sit in on our production meetings via zoom, and get exclusive updates about production and post-production.
Plus, all of the rewards above. -
Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Social Media Shoutout
We appreciate your contribution and the world should know. Let us give you a social media shoutout! Remember to send us your social handle.
$25
Personalized Poem
A personalized poem, just for you. Let us woo you with words and express our gratitude for your involvement in the making of our film.
Plus, a social media shoutout.
$50
Extended Version of the Script and BTS Material
You'll get an exclusive look at the earlier (and longer) version of the script, and receive access to behind the scenes photos and videos.
Plus, all of the rewards above.$100
Name in the Credits
We want to thank you for your contribution by including your name in the credits of our film!
Plus, all the awards above.
$250
First Look at the Trailer
You'll be the first to join the Brontë family with a sneak peek of our trailer.
Plus, all of the rewards above.$500
Film - First Look
Before it screens at festivals or is released online, you’ll be the first to watch the completed film online.
Plus, all of the rewards above.$750
Personalized Journal
A luxury journal with your name, or any inscription you'd like, embossed on the front cover. Plus, all of the rewards above
$1,000
Executive Producer Credit
THANK YOU for supporting our film. Let us credit you as our Executive Producer. You're invited to sit in on our production meetings via zoom, and get exclusive updates about production and post-production.
Plus, all of the rewards above. - Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
JJ Blake is a filmmaker based in Washington, DC. Her web series Sam Dates won two awards at the DC Web Fest. Previously, she has produced short films including 45 Willow Drive, Mr. Lickers, Momma’s Boy, and was most recently the director of photography for the short film Remedies. A graduate of American University, JJ has interned with the Kennedy Center, Spark Media, and New Hampshire PBS. JJ is so excited to be producing The Death of Anne Brontë this Autumn.
Kathleen is a director, writer, and actor based in the Washington D.C. area. She graduated from George Mason University with a B.F.A in Theatre with concentrations in performance and writing. Since graduating, Kathleen has performed in and directed plays for a variety of local D.C. theatre companies. Her most recent directorial credits include A Few Good Men at the Little Theatre of Alexandria and Emilie: La Marquise du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight with Vienna Theatre Company. Kathleen is beginning to break into film. Her most recent short On Repeat, for which she wrote the screenplay, received it's premiere this year with Film Shortage, an online cinema showcasing the best short films.
Vinh is a cinematographer and editor with over eight years of agency experience. He's designed, shot, edited and animated for Fortune 500 companies while receiving accolades for his work. Vinh's work has been featured on NBCUniversal, Facebook, Volkswagen, RedBull, Air Canada and more. Past awards include Bronze Cannes Cyber Lion, Lions Entertainment Finalist, Shorty Award for Mr. Robot Season 1: "Debt Deletion".
Robin is a verteran wardrobe mistress and theater costumer. She has worked with the costuming/wardrobe, hair design and makeup departments for plays based in the 1800s (The Count of Monte Cristo and A Christmas Carol), and in the modern era. Robin previously worked with Kathleen on the staged production of A Few Good Men. Robin has served as Chair of The Little Theatre of Alexandria's Costume Closet, curating sartorial treasures to dress LTA's performances and lend LTA costumes to area theaters, schools and non-profit organizations. Robin is thankful for the creative skills she inherited from her artist mother who painted many backdrops for her ballet performances and her seamstress grandmother.
Whitney Swoboda - Associate Producer
Whitney graduated from Boston University in January 2021 with a degree in Film and Television. She works freelance in the Baltimore-DC area, gaining experience in the production industry on her way to becoming a producer. Her professional experience includes two feature films and various commercial projects. In her free time, Whitney reads classics, rewatches Babylon Berlin, and eats Thai food.
Kayla Fyfe - Editor
Kayla Fyfe is an editor and filmmaker based in the Washington, DC area. She graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in Theater with a concentration in Acting and Directing. Currently, she is pursuing a Masters's in Film and Media Production at American University. She has been creating content on YouTube for the last five years. The Death of Anne Bronte is her first professional film credit, and she is incredibly excited to be a part of this team. When she is not creating, Kayla enjoys binging shows on Netflix, cuddling with her cat, and book shopping.
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